Heart healthy chocolate recipes

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate containing 70-85% cacao, is rich in a class of plant compounds known as flavonoids. A recent article from the American Heart Association states, "Research suggests consuming more dietary flavonoids is linked to a lower risk of coronary heart disease."

These compounds are also linked to brain health and preventing certain cancers. And while dark chocolate is often featured on the flavonoid-rich food list, many other foods provide this class of disease-fighting compounds:

• Fruits, including berries, cherries, grapes, grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, lemons and limes.
• Vegetables like red cabbage, red, yellow and orange bell peppers, onions, spinach, kale, collard greens and Romaine lettuce.
• Fresh herbs including parsley.
• Soybeans in their many forms, including tofu, tempeh and edamame.
• Beverages like green tea, black tea and red wine.

While dark chocolate can be a special treat, choose this list of flavonoid-rich foods with regularity and in generous amounts for a balanced diet to support your heart health.

Remember, adults should aim for two cups of fruit per day and two to three cups of vegetables each day. If you aim for those amounts, you'll likely get plenty of heart healthy flavonoids in your diet.

Here are two great recipes, featuring dark chocolate, to try for your next dessert:

Dark chocolate covered figs 

Ingredients

• ½ cup dark chocolate chips (without milk fat as ingredient)
• 12 fresh Black Mission figs
• ¼ cup finely chopped raw walnuts

Directions

Before you begin: Wash your hands.

1. Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave.
2. Dip figs into melted chocolate, sprinkle with nuts and place on parchment-lined pan.
3. Refrigerate about 30 minutes, until chocolate and nuts are set and figs are cold.
4. This recipe makes 12 servings.

Strawberry chocolate chip "ladybugs"

Ingredients

• 5 fresh, large whole strawberries
• 30 semi-sweet dark chocolate chips

Directions

Before you begin: Wash your hands.

1. Cut the tops off of the strawberries and cut them in half lengthwise.
2. With your fingers, gently push three chocolate chips into each half to create the ladybug's spots.
3. Serve on a fun platter.
4. One serving is five strawberries.

Recipes adapted from eatright.org.

Next steps:

Learn more about Main Line Health's nutrition counseling and weight management services
Register for an upcoming cooking class
Explore more dietitian-approved recipes

Want more recipes and health-focused content? Follow us on Pinterest!